Clematis plant named &#39;cleminov 51&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Clematis  plant is provided that is the product of a controlled breeding program. Attractive purple flowers are formed on a substantially continuous basis over an extended period of time. The growth habit is compact and bushy and the plant well resists wilting and withering. The plant can be readily propagated by the use of cuttings and can be grown to advantage to provide colorful ornamentation in the landscape and in pots.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Clematis hybrida/Clematis Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. ‘Cleminov 51’

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A new and distinct Clematis plant is provided that is the product of acontrolled interspecific hybridization program carried out during 1994at Beaucouzé, France. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was ‘ThePresident’ Clematis variety (non-patented in the United States), and themale parent (i.e., pollen parent) was the ‘Olgae’ variety (non-patentedin the United States). A single plant of the new variety of the presentinvention was selected during June 2002 primarily on the basis of theattractiveness of the flowers and the extremely long flowering season.

It was found that the new Clematis variety of the present inventiondisplays the following combination of characteristics:

(a) exhibits a compact and bushy growth habit,

(b) forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis over anextended period of time attractive purple flowers, and

(c) readily can be propagated by the use of cuttings.

The new variety commonly flowers on a substantially continuous basis forapproximately 4 to 5 months on average from May to September whichsignificantly exceeds the flowering period of many other Clematisvarieties. Also, the new variety has been found to well resist thewilting and withering phenomenon commonly observed with respect to manypreviously known climbing Clematis varieties.

The new variety of the present invention well meets the needs of thehorticultural industry and is particularly well suited for providingcolorful ornamentation in the landscape and in pots.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom all other Clematis varieties of which I am aware including itsparental varieties on the basis of the above-identified combination ofcharacteristics. More specifically, ‘The President’ variety isconsiderably less compact in its growth habit and the duration of theblooming is considerably shorter. Also, the ‘Olgae’ variety formssmaller flowers which are displayed for a considerably shorter period oftime.

The new variety of the present invention has been found at Beaucouzé,France, to readily undergo asexual propagation by the rooting ofcuttings. The distinctive combination of characteristics of the newvariety is reliably transmitted to subsequent generations following suchpropagation. Accordingly, the new variety propagates true to type viaasexual reproduction.

The new variety has been named ‘Cleminov 51’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photographs show typical four year-old plants duringthe summer while growing at Beaucouzé, France. The plants had beenasexually reproduced by the rooting of cuttings.

FIG. 1 shows the typical compact growth habit of the new variety withthe abundant presence of attractive purple flowers and foliage whilegrowing in the landscape.

FIG. 2 shows a close view of the attractive purple flowers and foliageof the new variety while growing in a pot. The arrangement of thestamens and pistils also is shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is based on the observation of five year-oldplants of the new variety while growing outdoors at Beaucouzé, Franceduring September 2004. The plants had been asexually reproduced by therooting of cuttings. Color designations are with reference to the R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society London, England. Whenemployed common color terms are to be accorded their customarydictionary significance.

-   Origin: A product of the controlled cross of ‘The President’ variety    (female) and the ‘Olgae’ variety (male).-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—compact and bushy.        -   Height.—commonly approximately 40 to 50 cm. on average when            grown in a pot and approximately 100 cm on average when            grown in the landscape.        -   Width.—commonly approximately 45 cm on average.-   Branches:    -   -   Color.—young stems: commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144A. —            adult stems: commonly near Greyed-Orange Group 175C.        -   Stem length.—up to approximately 150 cm.        -   Internode length.—varies somewhat with age of plant, and            typically is approximately 5.2 cm on average.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf general appearance.—dense with a dull aspect            (non-glossy).        -   Leaf length.—commonly approximately 6 to 6.5 cm on average.        -   Leaf width.—commonly approximately 3 to 4 cm on average.        -   Leaf shape.—ovate to lanceolate.        -   Leaf base.—obtuse to attenuate.        -   Leaf apex.—generally cuspidate to acute.        -   Leaf margin.—entire.        -   Leaf color.—new foliage: upper surface: near Yellow-Green            Group 144A. under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 144A.            mature foliage: upper surface: near Green Group 143A with            lighter green venation. under surface: near Green Group            139C.        -   Petioles.—commonly approximately 2.3 cm in length, firm, and            commonly near Yellow-Green Group 144C in coloration with the            coloration sometimes varying with the location of the            petiole along the stem.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number.—commonly approximately 5 or 6 on average per stem.        -   Time of blooming.—commonly from May to September.        -   Duration of blooming.—commonly approximately 4 to 5 months            on average on a substantially continuous basis.        -   Peduncle.—commonly approximately 3 to 6 cm in length on            average, approximately 0.2 cm in diameter on average, and            near Brown Group 200A in coloration.        -   Buds.—urn-shaped, medium in size, and commonly approximately            3.5 cm in length on average.        -   Size.—a fully open individual flower commonly measures            approximately 10 cm in diameter on average. The flower when            fully open is relatively flat and of an insignificant depth            as illustrated in FIG. 1.        -   Configuration.—disc-shaped.        -   Tepal number.—between 4 and 6 per flower and most commonly            6.        -   Tepal arrangement.—radial.        -   Overall tepal shape.—elongated.        -   Tepal apex.—pointed.        -   Tepal margin.—entire.        -   Tepal texture.—firm with superior resistance to wilting and            withering.        -   Tepal color.—when fully open on the upper surface Violet            Group 86A with darker marking towards the center as shown in            FIG. 2, and on the under surface Violet-Blue Group 89C.        -   Lastingness.—a typical flower commonly lasts approximately 7            days on the plant on average.        -   Fragrance.—very slight.        -   Stamens.—approximately 46 on average.        -   Pollen.—present and near Violet-Blue Group 89D in            coloration.        -   Anthers.—near Purple Group 79A in coloration, approximately            0.4 cm in length, and generally present in a ring            arrangement.        -   Filaments.—approximately 1.6 cm in length and commonly            variable in coloration.        -   Pistils.—approximately 50 on average.        -   Styles.—near Yellow-Green Group 150D in coloration and            approximately 1.3 cm in length.        -   Stigmas.—near Yellow-Green Group 150D in coloration and            approximately 1 mm in length on average.        -   Hips.—commonly feathery in configuration, tomentose,            approximately 3 cm in length, approximately 0.5 cm in width,            and near Greyed-Orange Group 165A when mature.        -   Seeds.—commonly one per hip, feathery in appearance, and            near Greyed-Orange Group 16A when mature.

The disease resistance of the new cultivar during observations to datehas been found to be comparable to that of Clematis plants in generalwith no particular disease or pest problems having been encounteredduring observations to date.

Plants of the ‘Cleminov 51’ variety have well withstood a temperature aslow as −8° C. at Beaucouzé, France. Accordingly, considerable hardinesscan be attributed to the new variety.

Plants of the new ‘Cleminov 51’ variety have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

1. A new and distinct Clematis plant that exhibits the followingcombination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a compact and bushy growthhabit, (b) forms in abundance on a substantially continuous basis overan extended period of time attractive purple flowers, and (c) readilycan be propagated by the use of cuttings; substantially as illustratedand described.